小行星三维地形模型几何重建方法

DOI： 10.3969/j.issn.1674 1579.2020.01.008小行星三维地形模型几何重建方法刘兴潭，武延鹏，吴奋陟，顾营迎，郑然，梁潇摘要： 小行星全球测绘对深空探测定点着陆具有重要意义.通过对绕飞段光学敏感器拍摄的序列图像进行几何立体重建方法的研究，可以实现探测器位姿信息未知情况下的三维地形建模.综合小行星表面特性、小行星运行特点与探测器飞行需求，首先通过全局的运动恢复结构完成小行星稀疏点云重建，再利用多视角场景重建对点云进行稠密化得到致密均匀的网格.然后采用隼鸟号探测器绕飞阶段实测影像，对小行星糸川(25143 Itokawa)的三维地形进行仿真重建，分辨率为0.36 m；并在光学实验室对3D打印的小行星比例模型进行模拟观测实验，得到重建分辨率为0.67 m.最后通过点云配准，进一步验证方法的有效性.结果表明，本方法稳定性较强，在分辨率要求在米级范围内的情况下，能够较好地针对小行星表面地形进行三维重建.     

一种小天体旋转参数估计方法

小天体旋转参数是科学数据，也是小天体测绘，着陆导航的基础数据.研究一种在小天体探测接近段过程中使用的基于图像上特征点跟踪和扩展卡尔曼滤波器的小天体旋转参数估计方法.该方法首先建立小天体旋转关系模型，表示小天体在相机坐标系中的姿态变化；然后定义小天体旋转的状态方程，推到了扩展卡尔曼滤波器的计算过程.通过对观测图像序列上的特征点跟踪，利用扩展卡尔曼滤波器方法得到小天体旋转轴指向和自转角速度估计.实验中，在仿真相机与小天体相机100 km距离上，分析了相机坐标系小天体坐标系之间的四元数初值，图像上特征点跟踪精度，相机的观测指向等因素对小天体旋转参数估计精度的影响.实验结果表明，提出的基于图像特征点跟踪和扩展卡尔曼滤波器的小天体旋转参数估计方法能够得到具有较高精度的估计结果.     

小行星形貌测绘与表征技术

小行星表面形貌测绘是深空小行星探测的首要任务。提出了一种适应探测器抵近观测的立体视觉在线测绘小行星形貌的方法,即先由立体相机获得所摄重叠区的三维地形,再用前后立体模型的连接点将各个独立模型连成一个完整地形信息,经整体最小二乘平差,确定小行星的形貌模型及特征;同时提出了一种基于等值线分析的撞击坑特征提取方法,即通过提取、分析地形等值线识别出地形中撞击坑特征。实验结果显示,本文所构建的原型系统能够快速重建出探测区域的三维地形,并识别出地形中撞击坑特征,证明了所提方法具有实用性。     

雷达技术在小天体任务中的应用研究

在小天体任务中,雷达技术可用于浅表层探测和全球内部结构探测。总结了国内外雷达技术在天体探测任务中的应用现状,分析了单站和双站雷达系统的不同应用场景,对比了单站雷达中的轨道器雷达、表面巡视器雷达的不同特点。在此基础上,研究了小天体的可能结构、可能物质,介绍了单站、双站雷达的基本工作原理,提出了针对不同结构小天体可采用的雷达探测体制。针对尺寸较大的分层结构小天体,可采用单站雷达探测天体的浅表层,获取表层和浅表层的介电常数以及表层的深度;对于尺寸较小的碎石堆结构小天体,可采用双站雷达观测天体透射波,获取天体的介电常数和全球内部结构。最后通过仿真实验,验证了双站雷达对于探测碎石堆状小行星全球内部结构的有效性。     

一种小行星探测陆标导航方法

针对小行星探测下降着陆段精确相对导航问题,提出了一种基于Stereophotoclinometry (SPC)陆标的相对导航方法.该方法先采用SPC光照模型渲染陆标的预测图像,再利用双线性插值从观测图像中生成陆标的提取图像.通过组合相关匹配实现预测图像与提取图像的高精度匹配,得到陆标中心点对应观测图像位置,即可利用N点透视(PNP)算法进行相机位姿估计.仿真结果表明,该方法在初始相机位姿偏差较大时也能达到亚像素的图像位置确定精度,并且具有较好的实时性.     

小行星形貌特征的分析与描述

小行星形貌特征的分析对深空探测器的导航、着陆点的选取具有重要意义。现有的深空星体形貌特征的分析与描述主要集中在火星、月球等类地天体上,而作为宇宙中为数众多、信息量丰富的小行星却鲜有文献对其形貌特征作详细深入的介绍。文章以Vesta、Eros、Mimas等人类已探测的小行星为例,分析了几种典型的小行星表面形貌特征,完善了凹坑、岩石等形貌特征的描述参数,并用仿真实验生成了Mimas小行星表面的Herschel凹坑模型。实验结果显示,所提出的特征描述方法具有较好的仿真度和实用性。     

小行星着陆装置着陆动力学及着陆性能分析

小行星着陆装置实现着陆器在小行星表面的着陆,其动力学及着陆性能研究对着陆装置研制具有重要意义.基于三腿式小型着陆装置,在对其结构特点及着陆策略分析的基础上,采用Lagrange方程建立了二维着陆动力学模型,模型对着陆及翻转阶段的动力学特性进行了描述,其计算结果与仿真验证较为接近且具有一致的变化趋势.在最大允许倾角为30°的着陆面上,采用仿真分析方法对着陆装置在不同着陆速度及偏航角下的着陆性能进行了统计分析,结果表明着陆装置具有良好的着陆性能.     

月球着陆器悬停阶段相对自主导航方法

月球着陆器着陆阶段导航信息分析是实现安全软着陆月面的一个关键.针对悬停阶段导航信息的要求,根据月球着陆器携带的仪器设备及其获取月面信息的特点,利用激光测距仪和光学导航相机进行光学相对导航.首先建立相对导航坐标系;其次根据各个坐标系之间的关系确定各转换矩阵和导航信息,估算着陆器相对月面着陆点的位置和姿态;最后通过仿真实验对该方法进行验证.结果表明,将激光测距仪和光学导航相机在着陆悬停阶段获取的月面信息进行融合,能快速、精确进行相对位置、姿态计算;对我国下一步的探月有重要应用价值,并可应用于火星探测和其他小行星探测的软着陆的近距相对导航.      

小天体表面移动技术研究进展

基于已实施的小天体探测任务和未来小天体表面移动探测技术的发展趋势,阐述了小天体表面移动技术研究现状。根据小天体的特殊动力学环境和任务需求,总结了小天体表面移动技术的主要问题;归纳分析了包括小天体引力场建模与表面运动特性分析、小天体表面弹跳技术以及弱引力环境下的导航与制导技术在内的小天体表面移动关键技术,并介绍了这些关键技术的研究进展;对上述关键技术的未来研究热点和发展趋势进行了展望。     

近地小行星观测技术分析

数量庞大的近地小行星对地球安全构成了重大潜在威胁,受现阶段小天体观测技术水平限制,仍有大量危险性小行星尚未发现。瞄准我国近地小行星空间观测技术发展需求,通过综合分析国内外近地小行星观测现状及相关技术水平,并结合天/地基小行星观测平台能力对比,从我国近地小天体观测技术基础出发,提出了我国空间红外小行星观测技术方案。采用可见–红外融合探测的技术方案开展小行星搜寻与光谱详察,并通过空间小行星观测平台与地面观测装备网络协同观测,为推动形成我国天体一体化小行星观测体系奠定基础;同时通过对多种小行星撞击地球的防御策略以及小行星利用价值综合分析,为我国开展近地小行星观测、预警、防御等任务提出了初步建议。     

Landing of hopping rovers on Irregularly-shaped small bodies using attitude control

A hopping rover that is driven only by internal or external attitude actuators is an ideal mobility approach for surface exploration of small solar system bodies. Without thrust control and grasping mechanisms, a hopping rover is mechanically simple to design and less prone to mechanical failures, but faces challenges during soft landing. It may rebound from the surface, causing deviations from its original landing site. In this paper, landing of a hopping rover on the surface of an asteroid is investigated, and a strategy using only attitude control to shorten the landing distance is proposed. Based on rigid body impact dynamics, the edge impact configuration is investigated in detail. The factors that affect the impact states of a cube-shaped hopping rover are studied. Then, controlled edge landing is analyzed, in which the post-impact velocity of the hopping rover is changed by controlling its attitude prior to impact. Three guidance schemes are developed, followed by attitude profile generation and finite time stable attitude control. Finally, simulations are performed on an ideal flat surface and uneven terrain. The results show that controlled edge landing can effectively reduce the landing distance and settling time, compared with uncontrolled landing. This study on hopping motion on the surface of an irregular-shaped asteroid with attitude control, can provide a reference for hopper trajectory plan in future asteroid surface explorations.     

The effect of a rocky terrain for CubeSat landing on asteroid surfaces

The paper describes a general modelling procedure to build a simulation tool to investigate contact motion of a CubeSat on an asteroid surface. We investigate landing performance and landing success for the case of elastic rocky terrain and flat surfaces. As a case study, we focus on the disposal of ESA’s Hera Milani CubeSat by landing on the moon of Didymos binary asteroid system. The simulation environment includes the modelling of real shape and 6-DOF motion of the lander, the shape-based gravity models of Didymos and Dimorphos and rocks on surface, that are generated as physical obstacles. Trends and estimates on the performance of the landing phase and the most relevant effects on the outcome of the soil interaction process, are inferred. The statistical results on settling time, dispersion area and motion characteristics, such as number of bounces, show and quantify the effect of rocks on a successful passive and permanent landing.     

近地小行星采矿与防御计划发展现状

近地小行星交会、绕飞、着陆与采样返回技术经过数10年的发展日趋成熟。美国的OSIRIS-Rex对C类小行星进行特征分析与采样,日本宇宙航空研究开发机构的“隼鸟-2号”任务目的是小行星深层采样。美国国家航空航天局（NASA）和欧洲空间局（ESA）的小行星探测任务开始转向行星防御领域。NASA的ARM（Asteroid Redirect Mission）计划是开展小行星抓捕与轨道重定向,ESA联合NASA提出了小行星撞击与偏转评估计划,拟对双星系统开展撞击实验,为行星防御提供技术积累。此外,行星资源公司和深空工业公司分别规划了小行星商业采矿的蓝图,并已开展相关的在轨技术验证。对近地小行星的探测历程进行了回顾,重点介绍了OSIRIS-Rex、“隼鸟-2号”、NASA和ESA的行星防御计划及小行星采矿公司的商业采矿战略规划,总结了未来开展行星防御与采矿的关键技术。     

Single photon laser altimeter simulator and statistical signal processing

Spaceborne altimeters are common instruments onboard the deep space rendezvous spacecrafts. They provide range and topographic measurements critical in spacecraft navigation. Simultaneously, the receiver part may be utilized for Earth-to-satellite link, one way time transfer, and precise optical radiometry. The main advantage of single photon counting approach is the ability of processing signals with very low signal-to-noise ratio eliminating the need of large telescopes and high power laser source. Extremely small, rugged and compact microchip lasers can be employed. The major limiting factor, on the other hand, is the acquisition time needed to gather sufficient volume of data in repetitive measurements in order to process and evaluate the data appropriately. Statistical signal processing is adopted to detect signals with average strength much lower than one photon per measurement. A comprehensive simulator design and range signal processing algorithm are presented to identify a mission specific altimeter configuration. Typical mission scenarios (celestial body surface landing and topographical mapping) are simulated and evaluated. The high interest and promising single photon altimeter applications are low-orbit (∼10 km) and low-radial velocity (several m/s) topographical mapping (asteroids, Phobos and Deimos) and landing altimetry (∼10 km) where range evaluation repetition rates of ∼100 Hz and 0.1 m precision may be achieved. Moon landing and asteroid Itokawa topographical mapping scenario simulations are discussed in more detail.     

Design of a formation of solar pumped lasers for asteroid deflection

This paper presents the design of a multi-spacecraft system for the deflection of asteroids. Each spacecraft is equipped with a fibre laser and a solar concentrator. The laser induces the sublimation of a portion of the surface of the asteroid, and the resultant jet of gas and debris thrusts the asteroid off its natural course. The main idea is to have a formation of spacecraft flying in the proximity of the asteroid with all the spacecraft beaming to the same location to achieve the required deflection thrust. The paper presents the design of the formation orbits and the multi-objective optimisation of the formation in order to minimise the total mass in space and maximise the deflection of the asteroid. The paper demonstrates how significant deflections can be obtained with relatively small sized, easy-to-control spacecraft.     

近地小行星2016HO3表面温度建模研究

2019年4月18日,中国国家航天局(CNSA)公布了小行星探测计划,将近地小行星2016HO3作为探测任务目标之一。主要梳理了2016HO3热环境分析的要素,通过调研国际上目前观测数据,得到2016HO3的初步环境参数,使用近地小行星热模型(NEATM)与小行星热物理模型(TPM)开展了小行星2016HO3表面温度场建模与分析,综合得出小行星温度上限为412 K;同时结合其可能的自转条件,仿真分析了不同位置的昼夜温差变化特性,发现2016HO3最大温差大约为30 K。由于两个模型均不能直接处理极夜情况,在TPM模型基础上采用对自转周期光照进行平均思路,给出了极夜条件下的温度分析方法,并获得小行星2016HO3的温度下限。     

Traverses for the ISECG-GER design reference mission for humans on the lunar surface

This study explores the Design Reference Mission (DRM) architecture developed by Hufenbach et al. (2015) as a prelude to the release of the 2018 Global Exploration Roadmap (GER) developed by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG). The focus of this study is the exploration of the south polar region of the Moon, a region that has not been visited by any human missions, yet exhibits a multitude of scientifically important locations – the investigation of which will address long standing questions in lunar research. This DRM architecture involves five landing sites (Malapert massif, South Pole/Shackleton crater, Schrödinger basin, Antoniadi crater, and the South Pole-Aitken basin center), to be visited in sequential years by crew, beginning in 2028. Two Lunar Electric Rovers (LER) are proposed to be tele-robotically operated between sites to rendez-vous with crew at the time of the next landing. With engineering parameters in mind we explore the feasibility of tele-robotic operation of these LERs between lunar landing sites, and identify potential high interest sampling locations en-route. Additionally, in-depth sample collection and return traverses are identified for each individual landing site across key geologic terrains that also detail crew Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA). Exploration at and between landing sites is designed to address a suite of National Research Council (2007) scientific concepts.     

Modeling irregular small bodies gravity field via extreme learning machines and Bayesian optimization

Close proximity operations around small bodies are extremely challenging due to their uncertain dynamical environment. Autonomous guidance and navigation around small bodies require fast and accurate modeling of the gravitational field for potential on-board computation. In this paper, we investigate a model-based, data-driven approach to compute and predict the gravitational acceleration around irregular small bodies. More specifically, we employ Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) theories to design, train and validate Single-Layer Feedforward Networks (SLFN) capable of learning the relationship between the spacecraft position and the gravitational acceleration. ELM-base neural networks are trained without iterative tuning therefore dramatically reducing the training time. Analysis of performance in constant density models for asteroid 25143 Itokawa and comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko show that ELM-based SLFN are able learn the desired functional relationship both globally and in selected localized areas near the surface. The latter results in a robust neural algorithm for on-board, real-time calculation of the gravity field needed for guidance and control in close-proximity operations near the asteroid surface.     

Single crater-aided inertial navigation for autonomous asteroid landing

In this paper, a novel crater-aided inertial navigation approach for autonomous asteroid landing mission is developed. It overcomes the major deficiencies of existing approaches in the literature, which mainly focuses on the case where craters are abundant in the camera field of view. As a result, traditional crater based methods require at least three craters to achieve crater matching, which limits their application in final landing phase where craters are scarce in the camera’s field of view. In contrast, the proposed algorithm enables single crater based crater matching based on a novel 2D-3D crater re-projection model. The re-projection model adopts inertial measurements as a reference, and re-projects the 3D crater model onto descent images to achieve the matching to its counterpart. An asteroid landing simulation toolbox is developed to validate the performance of the proposed approach. Through comparison with the state-of-the-art local image feature and crater based navigation algorithms, the proposed approach is validated to achieve a competitive performance in terms of feature matching and pose estimation accuracy with a much lighter computational cost.